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Daily Leadership Thought #180 – We Need More Courage And Less Political Posturing

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July 25, 2011

Daily Leadership Thought #180 – We Need More Courage And Less Political Posturing

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As we begin another week with political posturing around the debt ceiling, it has become increasingly clear how political considerations are overshadowing bipartisanship and what is best for the country. This is a manufactured crisis. The government can’t afford not to raise the debt ceiling for many important reasons. In the past, it has been done under presidents from both parties. Where was all this concern during the last budget negotiations? Since it is a major election season next year, political leaders on both sides are using the issue as a hammer to beat up on their opposition – how sad, yet predictable.

The question you must ask yourself is, “Why did they wait until this point?” Congressional leaders and the president clearly knew this moment was coming. For the last 10 years, our politicians have been irresponsibly spending money the country doesn’t have and avoiding tough decisions. There are obviously opinions across a broad spectrum on why this problem has happened. However, neither party is always right or wrong. There is undoubtedly ample blame to assign in both directions. What’s most important is how we responsibly address our economic challenges and move forward. Demagoguing an issue until the 11th hour is a bit tiresome and unproductive. People are capable of recognizing hypocrisy and nonsense.

The only way Washington is going to address our pressing economic problems is to confront tough realities and adopt a more long-term perspective. The time for quick fixes is over. I’m not even sure it should have ever really existed. Both parties need to set aside their short-term political calculations and prioritize the country’s interests over their own. In addition, we need leaders who are going to act like adults and take responsibility for their actions as well as be upfront and honest with their constituents regarding the sacrifices necessary to fix the issue(s). As a debtor nation, you cannot continue to spend your way out of the problems you’ve created for yourself. At some point, the financial burden becomes unsustainable, as many households have found out over the last three years.

I realize that most people don’t have a high view of politicians. There is something we all find suspect about people who run for office and seek this type of influence and power. However, throughout our history, there have been outstanding politicians from both parties who stepped up, tackled the difficult challenges, and did the right thing. We don’t know the names of many of them because, unbelievably, they were less interested in celebrity and more focused on getting things done. We need them now more than ever.

Our country must make some difficult decisions and confront some harsh realities if we are to sustain our “exceptionalism.” No amount of political posturing will change this fact. The prevailing trends are unfavourable, and we require leaders who possess the courage to challenge the status quo and risk jeopardising their careers. They must operate for a higher, more worthy purpose than their self-aggrandizement. A democracy without political courage is like a plane that loses a wing in midair; it won’t continue to fly for much longer.

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